The Washington critic., 1887-10-01

With his breakfaa. ] then strolled down
etsirs into the uitin lobby and corridors,
where, carly as the hour was, soon discoy.
cred that something wonderful was "in the
wind,n aud, moreover, that that wonderful
eomething was embodied in my own per-
ron. was not, like Hamlet, "the glass OF
fashion and the mould OF FORM" but | was
somehow "thc observed OF all observetsn ~
was conscious that / did not look like
"the expectancy and rose OF the fair state;h
that my "personal pulchritude," as witty
statesman has It, was not overwhelming to
the beholder; and yet found myself At that
moment immensely, not to say alsrmingly,
attractive.
POPULAR sENsATIoS.
The news had spread far aud wide that
great GolIah from the North, "Yaukee
Lincoln hirelIrg," had como suddenly into
their proud city, unlnvited, unheralded.
Thousands Of persons had gathered to see
the strange ambassador. The corridors,
the main Office and lobby were thronged,
and the adjacent streets were crowded as
well with excited spectators. There was a
wagging OF heads, chorus of curses and
epithets not at all complimentary, aud all
eyes were fixed upon tho daring stranger,
who seemed to be regarded not M the
bearer OF The olive branch of peace, but as
demon come TO denOuuce the curse of
NuIN IttilfIVt hIu lhhllUe' nus was my
Initiation into the great "Uupleastness,n
ind the situatiOn WAS certainly paiOful aud
enbarrneslng, but there was plainly moth
ing to do but to assume bold front.
AN IsQuIsTiyB STRANGER.
Ipressed my way through the mass Of ex-
cited humanity to the clerks counter, ox-
amlned the register, then turned, and with
difficulty elboNcd my way through the
1n, t,, ~ tha a AZ
room. There 1 was touched upon tho
shoulder by an elderly man, who asked, IN
tone of peremptory authority, care you
Mark Lamon :"
"No, fir; Om Ward II. Lsmon. At your
servce.n
Are you the man who registered here as
Lamon Of Virginia ~
~ registered as Ward II. Llmon, without
designating my place OF residence. What
is your business with me, sir i'
80, WE'LL" continued the mA1 OF author
ity, "haye you Sny objection to state VIII Il
business YOU have here 10 Charleston ~
"Yes, huyen then after pause, during
which ! surveyed my questtOner with as
much cCOluess VS. the state of my nerves
would allow, added, "my business Is with
your Governor, who ia to see me as soon as
he has finished his breakfast II he chooses
to impart TO you my business In this city
you will know it; otherwise notn
"Bcg pardon; II you have business with
opr Governor it's all right Well see.n
INTERVIEW WITH GOVERNOR PICRENs.
Shortly after breakfast was waited upon
by one of the Governors staff, a most
courtly and agreeable gentleman, in full
military uniform, who Informed me thtst the
Governor was ready to receive me. Ny In
teryiew with Governor Pickens was, to me,
a memorable one. After saying to him
what President Lincoln had directed me to
say, general discussion took place touch
ing the critical state OF public Affairs. With
most engaging courtesy, and an open
franknees for which that brave man was
justly celebrated, he told me plainly that
he was compelled to be both radical
and violent; that he regretted the
necessity OF violent measures, but
that he could see no way out of existing
difficulties but to eight out. "Nothing,"
said he, "can prevent war, except the ac-
qniescence OF the President OF the United
States in secession, and his uualterable
resolve not to attempt any reinforcement Of
the Southern forts. To ihiuk Of remaining
any longer in the Union is simply prepos-
tetous. We have 1900 wCll-nrme1 soldiers
around the city; all the States are arming
with great rApidtty, aud this melns war
with all its consequences. Let your Pfesi-
dent attempt TO reenfOrce Sumter, and the
tocsin Of war will be sounded from every
hilltop aud valley Ia the SOuth.n
This settled the matter 50 far as accom-
mediation was concerned. There was no
doubt that Pickens voiced the sentiment Of
rebellion.
My next duty was to confer with Major
Anderson at the belesguered fort on ln-
tlmatipg II desire to see that officer Gov
trnor Pickens promptly placed IN my hands
the following:
STATE or SourH CARoLINA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
March -, 1851,
Nr Lamon, from the President OF the United
states, requests to see Major Anderson ut
Fort sumter on business entirely pacific, and
my aid, Colonel Duryes, will 20 With him and
return. merely TO see that every prupriety Is
observed toward MIR. LqmOn.
Y. ". PicNBNs, Governor.
vIsIT TO FORT SUMTER.
A fag OF truce steamer WAS furnished by
the Governor, under charge OF Colonel Dur
yea, q genial and accomplished gentleman,
to whom am indebted for most cousiier-
ate courtesy, aud ] proceeded to Fort
Sumter. ! found Major Anderson IN a
quandary, and deeply despoudent. He
fully realized the critical position he and
his men occupied, hud he apprehended the
worst possible consequences II measures
were not promptly taken by the GDyern-
ment to strengthen him. HIS subordinates
generally, Oh the contrary, seemed to re-
gard the whole affair as a sort OF picnic,
and evinced reOdiness TO meet any fate,
They seemed to be spOiling for 1ght. aud
were eager for anything that might relieve
the monOtony Of their position. War seemed
| as inevitable to them US to Governor Pick
enc.
After full and free conference with
Mafnr ApHapfnn I to
ton Hotel. Tho .cited crowd8 We're still
IN the streets and the hotel was oYeraOwiug
with anxious people. The pOpulsce seemed
maddeued by their failure to learn any
thing Of the purpose or results OF my visit.
The aspect of things was threatening to my
personal safety, and Governor Plckeas had
alresdy taken steps to allay the excitement
a rope had been procured by the rabble
and thrown into one corner Of the reading
room. AS ! entered the room / was ac
costed by seedy patriot tomewhat passed
the middle age. he was dressed In fUrkrl,
tailed coat, with brass buttons, which
locked Ike It might have done service At
1homus JeiIersOn's fret reception. lie
wore a high belt crown hat, with nu olnr
and rust " antiquity, which seemed T. pro-
claim 1t relic from trsn The wardrobe "
Sir Walter Raleigh. Ills swuthy throat
was decorated with red haudana crayst,
and shirt collar Of amazing ampl'tl le,
and Of such fantastic pat. .Tu HAT n migat
have served eg "lyn to q Sibl,y tent.
An ENClTiSG EPISODE,
This olraglnous buffer was in rage.
Kicking the rope lu the middle OF the room
aud squariug himself before me he said;
"Do you think that lsetruug enough to hang
a ID Lincoln abolition hireliug" 10 this
highly Significant intgrryga.ory l replied,
aiming my words more at the crowd thon at
the begsarly unlAu who had addressed me:
"sir, lm u Vlrgiuiau by blr'h aud gen
tleman, hope, 10y education and iustiuut.
was sent here by the Pre- lGeut Of the
United States TO zee your GDyuuOr.n vnH
strdy spCktsmrn Interrupted wltl 'dau
Your Prtsldeutn / cOutiuueI. 'Yup, str,